Basic And Common Wine Terms

By Author: Stephen John
Total Articles: 65
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Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "Wine is bottled poetry." Some wine lovers believe that wine is a form of art created with skilled hands, intrinsic talent, and science. Wine, unlike any other drink, has a culture of its own. While many people can have access to different types of wines, there will always be that elite circle of wine enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and winemakers that understand and believe in the art that is wine.

New wine lovers can always explore and know more about wine. But it does, however, require tasting, reading, and learning more about the different characteristics of wine. Here are some recommendations for beginners.

Color - The color of the wine is a quality that can indicate the wine's age. Whites develop a darker color with age but appear bright when young. Red wine, on the other hand, develops a brownish color when it ages. Depending on the type of wine, it can be better in quality when fresh or with a bit of years of aging.

Length - Also known as "finish," length is measured in the after-flavor or the impression it leaves in the mouth after swallowing. It is usually the wines ...
... with longer length or finish that are good for aging.

Dry and Sweet - In terms of taste, there are many wines that are called dry or sweet. Sweet means more sugar levels while dry is the opposite with nothing beyond 0.2 percent unfermented sugar. For beginners, sweet wines are easier to taste than dry.

Body and Weight - These terms are often interchangeable. They characterize the taste and feel of the wine in one's palate, including its alcohol content. Full-bodied wines are typically higher in alcohol content, and they might "feel" warmer in the palate. The light-bodied wines are more refreshing and contain lower alcohol content. Beginners might like light-bodied wines at first and get to explore more full-bodied wines later.

Legs - When swirling or drinking the wine, the liquid can sometimes cling on the sides or walls of the glass. Many people believe that this is a sign of quality but this just means that the wine has high alcohol content.

Breathe - After uncorking the wine, many people use the term "breathe," which means letting the bottle or glass of wine sit for a while to aerate. Sometimes, wines that are strong and rich are given a bit of time to breathe for oxidation to happen. The strong spirits can be released to give way for a well-balanced flavor, aroma, and taste that the palate can better appreciate.

Apertif - A wine that is drunk on its own without a meal or before a meal is often referred to as Apertif.

It's good to know these common terms so you can understand your wine better and differentiate certain characteristics you can find in various wines. You can also better choose a wine that would suit your palate based on the taste, color, body, and after-flavor. This is one step towards learning more about wine and exploring a new art and culture. You can check out various wine blogs and forums online for more info. Tasting is also a part of the exploration and learning. You can check online for a wide variety of Australian wines on the market.

Stephen John is a food and wine enthusiast. He blogs about food, wine, and culture and writes wine reviews for a living. He loves to travel and try exotic cuisines of different countries. He recommends you check out Cabernet Sauvignon wines in WineMarket.